Discovering Computers

Technology in a World of Computers,

Mobile Devices, and the Internet

Chapter 1
Digital Literacy

Objectives Overview

Differentiate among
laptops, tablets, and servers

Describe the purpose and

uses of smartphones, digital
cameras, portable media
players, e-book readers, and
game devices

Describe the relationship

between data and
information

Briefly explain various input

options

Differentiate the Internet

from the web, and describe
the relationship among the
web, webpages, websites,
and web servers

Explain the purpose of a

browser, a search engine,
and an online social
network

See Page 2
for Detailed Objectives

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

Objectives Overview

Briefly describe digital security

risks associated with viruses
and other malware, privacy,
your health, and the
environment

Differentiate between an
operating system and
applications

Discuss how society uses

technology in education, retail,
finance, entertainment, health
care, travel, government,
science, publishing, and
manufacturing

See Page 2
for Detailed Objectives

Differentiate between wired

and wireless technologies, and
identify reasons individuals and
businesses use networks

Identify technology used by

home users, small office/home
office users, mobile users,
power users, and enterprise
users

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

A World of Technology
Because technology
changes, you must keep
up with the changes to
remain digitally literate
Digital literacy involves
having a current
knowledge and
understanding of
computers, mobile
devices, the Internet, and
related technologies

Pages 2 - 3
Figure 1-1

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

Computers
A computer is an electronic device, operating
under the control of instructions stored in its own
memory
Accepts
data
(input)

Page 4

Processing

Produces
information
(output)

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

Computers

Laptop
Tablet
Desktop
Server

Pages 4 and 6
Figures 1-2 1-5

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

Mobile and Game Devices

Smartphone
Digital camera

Portable media player

E-book reader
Game console
Pages 7 - 9
Figures 1-6 1-10

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

Data and Information

Page 11
Figure 1-11

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

Data and Information

A keyboard
contains keys you
press to enter data
and instructions
into a computer or
mobile device

Page 12
Figure 1-12

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

Data and Information

A pointing device is an input device
that allows a user to control a small
symbol on the screen called a pointer
Some mobile devices and computers
enable you to speak data instructions
using voice input and to capture live
full-motion images using video input

Pages 12 13
Figure 1-14

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

10

Data and Information

A scanner is a light-sensing input device that
converts printed text and images into a form the
computer can process

Page 13
Figure 1-15

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

11

Data and Information

An output device is any hardware component
that conveys information from a computer or
mobile device to one or more people
A printer is an output device that produces text
and graphics on a physical medium such as paper

Page 14
Figure 1-16

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

12

Data and Information

A display is an output device that visually conveys
text, graphics, and video information

Page 14
Figure 1-17

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

13

Data and Information

Speakers allow you to hear audio such as music,
voice, and other sounds
Earbuds
Headphones

Page 15
Figure 1-18

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

14

Data and Information

Memory consists of electronic components that store
instructions waiting to be executed and the data needed by
those instructions

A computer keeps data, instructions, and information on a

storage media
A storage device records (writes) and/or retrieves (reads) items
to and from storage media
Page 15

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

15

Data and Information

Pages 15 17
Figures 1-19 1-24

Hard Disk

Solid-State
Drive

USB Flash Drive

Memory Card

Optical Disc

Cloud Storage

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

16

The Internet
The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks that
connects millions of businesses, government agencies,
educational institutions, and individuals

Pages 18 19
Figure 1-25

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

17

The Internet
The World Wide Web (or web, for short) is a global library of
information available to anyone connected to the Internet
The web consists of a worldwide collection of electronic
documents, each of which is called a webpage

A website is a collection of related webpages

A web server is a computer that delivers requested
webpages to your computer
Pages 19 - 20

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

18

The Internet

Page 19
Figure 1-26

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

19

The Internet
A browser is software that enables users with an
Internet connection to access and view webpages
on a computer or mobile device

Page 20

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20

The Internet
A search engine is software that finds websites,
webpages, images, videos, news, maps, and other
information related to a specific topic

Page 21

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21

The Internet
An online social network encourages members to
share their interests, ideas, stories, photos, music,
and videos with other registered users

Pages 21 22
Figure 1-27

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

22

Digital Safety and Security

It is important that users protect their computers
and mobile devices

Pages 23 - 24

Viruses and
Other
Malware

Privacy

Health
Concerns

Environmental
Issues

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

23

Digital Safety and Security

Green computing involves reducing the electricity
consumed and environmental waste generated when
using a computer
Strategies include:

Page 25

Recycling
Using energy efficient hardware and energy saving features
Regulating manufacturing processes
Extending the life of computers
Immediately donating or properly disposing of replaced computers

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24

Programs and Apps

Software, also called a program, tells the
computer what tasks to perform and how to
perform them
System Software
Operating system
Utility program

Application Software
Pages 25 - 26
Figure 1-28

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

25

Programs and Apps

Installing is the process of setting up software to
work with the computer, printer, and other
hardware
Once installed, you can run an application so that
you can interact with it
You interact with a program or application
through its user interface

Page 27

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26

Programs and Apps

A software developer, sometimes called an
application developer or computer programmer, is
someone who develops programs and apps or writes
the instructions that direct the computer or mobile
device to process data into information

Page 28
Figure 1-29

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

27

Communications and Networks

In the course of a day, it is likely you use, or use
information generated by, one or more of these
communications technologies
Chat rooms

Email

Fax

FTP

GPS

Instant
messaging

Internet

Newsgroups

RSS

Video
conference

Voice mail

Page 29

VoIP

Wireless
Internet
access points

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

Wireless
messaging
services
28

Communications and Networks

A communications device is hardware capable of
transferring items from computers and devices to
transmission media and vice versa

Page 29
Figure 1-30

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

29

Communications and Networks

Examples of wireless communications
technologies include:

Wi-Fi

Bluetooth
Cellular radio
Page 30

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Communications and Networks

A network is a collection of computers and
devices connected together via communications
devices and transmission media

Pages 30 31
Figure 1-31

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

31

Communications and Networks

Home Networks

Business Networks

Connect to the Internet

Share a single high-speed
Internet connection
Access photos, music,
videos, and other content
Share devices
Play multiplayer games
Connect game consoles to
the Internet
Subscribe to and use VoIP

Facilitate communications
Share hardware
Share data, information,
and software

Page 31

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32

Uses of Technology in Society

Education

Government

Finance

Retail

Entertainment

Health Care

Travel

Science

Publishing

Manufacturing

Pages 33 - 38

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

33

Technology Users

Home User

Small/Home
Office User

Power User
Pages 38 - 39

Mobile User

Enterprise User

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

34

Chapter Summary

Basic computer
concepts

Various methods
for input, output,
memory, and
storage

Digital security and

safety risks and
precautions

Page 41

The Internet

Uses of technology
applications in
society

Discovering Computers: Chapter 1

35

Discovering Computers
Technology in a World of Computers,
Mobile Devices, and the Internet

Chapter 1
Digital Literacy
Chapter 1 Complete